Fluid distributing device



Jan. 3, H N' RIDER FLUID D ISTRIBUTING DEVICE Filed June 22, 1931 Ame/Veys.

Patented Jan. 3, 1933 UNITED STATES PATENT o'l-Flc-E HARRY N. RIDER, OF YOUNGSTOWN, OHIO, ABBIGNOR TO AUTOMATIC SPBINKLEB COMPANY OF AMERICA., OF CLEVELAND, OHIO, A. CORPORATION F DELAWARE FLUID DISTBIBUTING DEVICE Application tiled June 22, 1931. Serial No. 545,876

This invention relates generally to fluid distributing devices, and more particularly to a sprinkler head for fire extinguishing s stems, which is an improvement over t e sprinkler heads disclosed in the Hamilton Patent No. 1,837,322, granted December 22, 1931.

In the development of an eicient s rinkler head for use in the iioors of aircraft angers 1 or other structures, I have found that for maximum fire-lightingeiectiveness, it is essential in the operation of a device of this kind that the stream of extinguishing flu-id be projected for a considerable distance with definite directional movement so as to reach the surface to be protected, and also that proper dispersion of the stream be obtained to aordcoverage of a large surface area. Moreover, I have found that such effective y 9 fluid distribution can best be obtained by providing means for breaking up the fluid stream into relatively large gobs or-slu s to which appreciable velocity and de nite directional movement can be imparted, and

35 by providing means for imparting rotation to the streams to thereby subject these gobs or slugs to the. action of centrifugal force.

y Therefore, as an object of this invention, I aim to provide an improved fluid distributing device of the kind mentioned which embodies novel means for projecting a stream of fluid in the desired direction and imparting rotational movement to the stream to expand the same.

Another object of this invention is to provide an improved form of nozzle for delivering a stream comprising relatively large drops of liquid and also imparting rotational movement to the stream to progressively expand the same.

Other objects and advantages of this invention will be apparent from the following description when taken in conjunction with the accompanying sheet of drawing, in which Fi 1 is a sectional elevation of'a fluid distributing device embodying my invention;y

Fig. 2 is a top plan view thereof;

Fig. 3 is a side elevational View of the fluid discharge nozzle;

Fig. 4 is an end elevation thereof;

Fig. 5 is a longitudinal sectional view of the nozzle taken on line 5-5 of Fig. 3; and

Fig. 6 is a partial sectional view on an enlar ed scale showing the nozzle orifice.

n the drawing to which detailed reference will presently be made, I have illustrated a fluid distributing device of a form especially suitable for use with fire extinguishing systems located in or below the floors of aircraft hangars, and other structures, and although the sprinkler head illustrated re re'- sents the preferred construction, it wil be understood, of course, that my invention may be embodied in sprinkler heads of various forms and which may be intended for other than fire extinguishing purposes.

As shown in Fig. 1, my fluid distributing device comprises a Casin 10 and a fluid discharge nozzle 11 mounted therein in substantial alignment with the vertical axis of the casing. The casing itself may be of any suitable form or shape but, as here shown, 1s' substantially conical and adapted to be embedded in the material of the floor 12 so that the base ofthe cone is almost flush with the surface of the floor. A cover 13 of suitable form, preferably a hinged cover, may be provided for closing the casing so as to prevent damage to the nozzle, the entry of foreign material, and to maintain the floor surface substantially smooth for movement of articles thereon. On its under surface, this cover is preferably provided with an arcuate depending rib 14 to facilitate the opening thereof by the stream of fluid delivered from the nozzle 11'. At its lower end, or in other words at the apex of the inverted cone, the casing is provided with a boss 15 having a threaded passage extending axially of the casing in which is mounted the nozzle 11.

The nozzle itself com rises an elongated metal body which may formed as a die casting, and which is provided with an open and unobstructed passage 17 extending axially therethrough. At its lower end the stem of the nozzle is threaded for engagement in the threaded opening of the boss 15, and at its other end is provided with a nutlike head 18 which is adapted to be engaged by a suit- 100 able tool for screwing the nozzle into the boss.

As shown in Figs. 1 and 5, the passage extending through4 the lower portion of the nozzle is substantially cylindrical in form, 5 as indicated at 19, while at the upper end of the nozzle the passage is of` reduced diameter to form a discharge opening or oriee 20. Intermediate the orifice and cylindrical portion 19, the passage is tapered or, in other words, formed of progressively reducing diameter as indicated at 21.

To impart rotational movement to the stream of fluid being delivered by the nozzle, so that the same may be progressively expanded by centrifugal force, as will be more fully explained hereinafter, I provide a plurality of helical fins or threads 22 which project into the orifice 20. These helical threads may be formed integral with the body of the nozzle, and may be provided in suitable number` to produce the desired rotational effect on the column of liquid. It will be seen that these helical fins or threads correspond, to some extent, with the riling provided in the bore of a gun, in that they produce rotation of the body of liquid in the sameimanner that the rifling produces rotation of the projectile.

In order that the centrifugal force may act upon the liquid with maximum effectiveness in expanding the stream, and also to provide the gobs or drops of water to which desired directional movement and velocity can be imparted, I construct the orifice 20 of a convergent-divergent form, which is best illustrated in. Fig. 6 of the drawing. As shown in this figure, the taper of the passage 21 is extended upwardly into the threading or riiing for substantially half the length of the orifice. This'may be accomplished by employing a suitable tool, such as a. drill, having a cutting surface tapered as indicated by the converging dotted lines 23. The remaining or upper half of the orifice is provided with a divergent taper by means of a tool or drill having a cutting surface tapered as indicated by the dotted lines 24. It will be seen in Fig. 6 that the wall or inner surface of the orifice 20 may be substanverging and diverging tapers are formed by cutting away and shaping the tops of the fins 22. As a result of these tapering operations, the tops of the fins constitute a part of the surfaces of the imaginary cones represented by the dotted lines 23 and 24. Althoughthe wall of the orifice is cylindrical, as stated above, the tapering of these tins, in effect, produces a convergent-divergent nozzle oritice.

Th'e water, or other fire extinguishing agent to be discharged, may be supplied to the nozzle by means of a distributing pipe 2G, which could be embedded in the material of CJ the floor, but which is preferably disposed l tially cylindrical in form, and that the conbelow the pavement as shown in Fig. 1. Fluid from this distributing pipe is delivered to the nozzle through the threaded passage of the boss 15 to which it is conducted by suitable connecting means, such as the pipe nipple 27.

In o eration of my iuid distributing'device, uid from the distributing pipe is forced upwardly through the nozzle and is discharged against the cover 13 by the ori- 75 tice 20. The force of the Huid against the cover swings the same to the open position, indicated in dotted lines, where it remains during the discharging operation. As the fluid passes through the orifice 20, the convergeht-divergent shape of this portion of the nozzle, results in the column of liquid being broken up into a stream composed ofl relatively large drops or gobs of liquid. Likewise, as the fluid passes through the ori- 55 tice 20, the helical fins 22 impart rotational movement to the stream of liquid. This rotational movement causes centrifugal force to act upon the drops or gobs composing the stream which results in progressive divergence or separation of these bodies as they travel away' from the nozzle.

It will be noted that although the ins 22 of the orifice project for a short distance into the Huid passage of the nozzle, this passa e is clear and open andsubstantially uno structed ,for the full length of the nozzle. This unobstructed passage through the nozzle provides for a flow of liquid with minimum resistance, so that an adequate volume 1,00 of fluid may be projected in a desired direction, and with sufficient velocity, to effectively accomplish a desired fire-extinguishing function. A

It will now be readily seen that I have provided a simple and e cient form of Huid distributing device embodying a nozzle having a normally unobstructed opening through which a large volume of Huid ma be discharged in a desired direction. dditionally, it will be seen that the provision of the convergent-divergent oriiceat the discharge end of the nozzle results in the stream of liquid being broken up into relatively large drops or gobs of liquid to which appreciable velocity and directional movement can be imparted. Furthermore, the provilsion of the helical iins in the discharge 0riice for producing a rotational movement of the stream, results in the latter being centrifugally expanded so that a proper dispersion of liquid is obtained to cover or protect a large surface area.

While I have illustrated and described the device of my invention in a detailed man- 125 ner, it will be understood, however, that I do not intend to limit myself to the precise details of construction and arrangement of parts illustrated and described, but regard my invention as including such changes and modications as do not involve a departure from the spirit ofthe invention and the scope of the appended claim.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim is: v

A `nozzle of the character described, comprising an elongated body having an open Huid passage extending axially therethrough, said passage having a cylindrical section at i@ the iniet end of the body and a cylindrical section of smaller diameter at the discharge end of the body and a conically tapering convergent section connecting said cylindrical sections, and a plurality of helically disposed fins on the inner surface of the second mentioned cylindrical section, the to s of said ns being tapered convergently o said passage for approximately one-half of the length of said second mentioned section and divergently for the other ortion of said second mentioned section, t e convergent taper of said tops being a continuation of the convergent taper of the connecting section of said passage whereby the ends of the fins merge smoothly into the wall of said con necting section.

In testimony whereof, I hereunto aix my signature. HARRY N. RIDER. 

